The Best Phone Trade-In Deals: How to Get Full Trade-In Value for Your Old Phone

The tech world moves a million miles an hour these days, and many people upgrade their phones to new ones every year or two. If this sounds like you, don’t just let your old device sit around gathering dust. You should at least consider leveraging a trade-in promotion to responsibly reuse your old phone and get a discount on your new one.

There are far too many electronic devices in landfills with years of useful life left in them. Instead of contributing to this e-waste stream, contribute to a more sustainable planet while getting trade-in credit to use toward your next phone.

Before you do, it’s important to understand which platforms offer the best value for your trade-in device. Where can you get the highest estimated trade-in value? What are the most convenient trade-in programs available? And where do your preferences lie between these two priorities?

Let’s walk through all the important details of the best phone trade-in offers to find out.

The Basics of Phone Trade-In Offers and Estimated Trade-In Value

What is a phone trade-in offer? It’s a deal from a retailer, wireless carrier, or manufacturer that offers credits in exchange for your used phone. You can typically apply these credits toward your next phone, or you can use them toward your monthly bill with your cellular provider. These offers are a popular way to make new phones more affordable by trading in an eligible device.

Most of these programs are restricted to store credit or gift cards. While some companies will offer instant trade-in credit, most take a few weeks to submit your payment. You might even be able to find a few companies offering actual money in the form of PayPal credits (Verizon’s trade-in estimates are for either store credit or a PayPal deposit, for example).

Regardless of the payout method, the amount you’ll get for your old phone will vary based on the phone’s brand and model. Other variables include its condition (both cosmetic and functional) and storage capacity.

Why Should You Use a Phone Trade-In Program?

Use Your Old Device to Receive a Discount on a New One

First off, there are obvious financial benefits to these programs. Instead of paying the full retail price for a brand-new phone, an eligible trade-in device can take a big bite out of your upfront costs.

Create a More Tidy Home

The second popular benefit is tidying up your home by getting rid of unused electronics. Whenever you submit a device trade-in, that’s one less smartphone cluttering up your junk drawer or collecting dust on a forgotten shelf.

Eco-Friendly Practices

Sustainability is another big selling point for these programs. The amount of electronic waste in our environment today is already becoming a major issue, as these devices can leach harsh chemicals into our air, water, and soil if disposed of improperly. When you trade in your old Apple or Android devices, you reduce e-waste and cut back on the demand for the raw materials used to manufacture new ones.

Where Is the Best Place to Trade In Your Used Phone?

In general, there are three core types of trade-in programs: those with mobile carriers, electronics retailers, and device manufacturers.

Wireless Carriers

All of the major carriers in the U.S. offer programs that exchange trade-in credits for used smartphones and tablets.

AT&T

AT&T sometimes has generous trade-in promotions, especially if you lock in a deal during the launch of a new Apple or Samsung device. Depending on the deal, when you trade in a qualifying device, you can get up to $1,000 in trade-in credits toward the purchase price of your next device. That said, we’ll point out that AT&T spreads out its credits over 36 billing cycles, so you’ll need to keep your current contract with AT&T for at least three years, otherwise, you’ll forfeit any remaining credits.

T-Mobile

T-Mobile’s program is pretty similar to AT&T’s. While T-Mobile has some deals spread over 24 months and some spread over 36 months, there’s still a long waiting period during which your credits trickle in. Also similar to AT&T, this slow trickle of credits is your only option for payment: there’s no instant credit option, and you can’t opt for any other forms of payment.

Verizon

Verizon has what we consider to be the most flexible trade-in program among the three top wireless carriers in the United States. Verizon makes it much easier than AT&T and T-Mobile to upgrade to a new device, thanks to its instant trade-in credit and PayPal offers. While AT&T and T-Mobile make you wait years to get your full trade-in value, Verizon offers instant credit for existing customers.

You’ll still need to wait one or two monthly billing cycles to get your credits, but when you do, you’ll get the full value of your device in one deposit. In addition, Verizon also has an option to receive your payout via PayPal. Once Verizon confirms your trade-in status, they’ll submit a deposit to your PayPal account within two weeks of receiving your old phone. You don’t even have to be an existing customer, as new customers are eligible as well.

Device Manufacturers

Popular smartphone makers also offer their own in-house trade-in device programs. Let’s take a look at the most popular manufacturers and see what they provide in this area.

Apple Trade-In

With Apple’s in-house program, you can receive trade-in credits for your old phone and use them toward your next device. You can make this exchange online or at your nearest Apple Store location.

What if your used iPhone or iPad is too old or beat up to get a resale offer? Apple will still recycle it for you on your behalf, much like we will at ecoATM. We’re always appreciative of other brands that prioritize the environment like we do, so we wanted to point out this aspect of Apple’s program.

That said, Apple sometimes makes much lower offers in trade-in credit than some competitors. For instance, at the time of this writing, the absolute biggest payout you can possibly receive is $630 for an iPhone 15 Pro Max in perfect condition.

Samsung Device Trade-Ins

Samsung must have heard the news about the Apple Trade-In program, as its own in-house trade-in device program has plenty of similarities. Again, these exact values will almost certainly have changed by the time you’re reading this, but we found it amusing that Samsung’s top payout is also exactly $630 at the time of this writing.

That said, there is one big advantage with Samsung’s program, and that’s the wide variety of eligible devices. Unlike Apple, Samsung also accepts smartphones and tablets from other brands as trade-in devices. So, if you have an old iPhone but want to switch to the latest Samsung Galaxy model, Samsung’s trade-in program will allow you to do just that.

Google Store Trade-In Program

We’ll mention this part right from the jump: Google offers some shockingly low trade-in values. We were initially impressed that, like Samsung, Google also accepts a wide variety of old devices, including those manufactured by its rivals, Apple and Samsung. That said, while Apple’s active offers at the time of this writing will give you $630 for a like-new iPhone 15 Pro Max, Google will give you just $500. Similarly, while Samsung currently offers $630 for a Galaxy S24 Ultra in perfect condition, Google offers a paltry $450.

Google’s offers for its own phones aren’t much better, as the trade-in value for the Pixel Fold maxes out at $400, and the trade-in credits for the Pixel 8 Pro max out at only $300. Overall, we think Google’s bargain-basement payouts make their trade-in program largely non-competitive, even though we appreciate that they accept third-party devices.

Electronics Retailers

Some retail stores also offer their own trade-in programs. Take a look at the two most popular options. Do either of them appeal to you?

Best Buy

Do you have other electronics besides smartphones and tablets to trade in? Best Buy could be a solid option for you. This retailer accepts smartphones, tablets, headphones, wearables, e-readers, computers, video game consoles, and much more as eligible devices.

Best Buy also offers decent trade-in values, as it currently offers up to $725 for smartphones, whereas Samsung and Apple max out at $630, and Google’s ceiling is currently $500. Best Buy offers trade-in credits in the form of gift cards, and they’ll deliver your gift card within five days of receiving your devices.

Amazon

Amazon’s trade-in program could be a solid choice depending on what you want to buy with your credits. If you want an Amazon device, like a Kindle, a Fire Tablet, or an Echo device, you can get a 20% discount on your chosen device in addition to a gift card for your trade-in device’s estimated value.

Amazon accepts devices manufactured by a wide variety of companies, including Apple, Samsung, Microsoft, Google, Bose, Sony, Netgear, Asus, TP-Link, and more. If you have any Amazon electronics on your wish list and a spare phone lying around at home, this program might be the right one for you.

ecoATM

Here at ecoATM, our process isn’t technically a “trade-in” program. It’s more of a “buyback” program, in that we don’t require you to swap your old device for a new one. Instead, we give you instant cash for your used smartphones and tablets and let you choose how you want to spend it!

ecoATM has over 6,500 kiosks located in popular retail centers across the country. We offer a fast, hassle-free method for selling your old phone without waiting for buyer confirmation, shipping, credit processing, etc. After all, even with a prepaid shipping label, it can take weeks to complete the entire trade-in process via mail.

With ecoATM, the process is incredibly simple. First, use the kiosk locator tool on our website to find the ecoATM location nearest you. With thousands of kiosks at reputable stores like Walmart, Dollar General, and Kroger, there’s a good chance you already shop at a store with an ecoATM kiosk.

Next, you’ll want to get a quote. You can either use the “Price Your Device” tool on our website to get an estimate, or you can simply bring your device to the kiosk for an evaluation. We’ll provide you with an exact quote based on the brand, model, storage capacity, and condition of your device.

If you agree to our offer, all you need to do is leave your phone at the kiosk and walk away with cash in your pocket! If you prefer digital payment, you can opt for a PayPal or Venmo transfer instead of cash.

One of the biggest ecoATM selling points is our commitment to the environment. Whether we offer to buy your old phone or not, we’ll offer to recycle it on your behalf. This recycling service doesn’t cost you a penny — we offer our recycling services free of charge because it’s worth losing a few dollars of potential profit if it means we’re protecting our planet with each transaction.

How to Maximize the Trade-In Value of Your Eligible Device

Regardless of whether you ultimately use a trade-in program from a carrier, manufacturer, or retailer — or you choose ecoATM’s efficient buyback service — there are steps you can take to get the most from your old device.

Always Take Good Care of Your Phone

In short, damaged devices have reduced value. When you keep your devices in good condition, you make sure they fetch top resale value. After all, a phone in flawless condition will always receive a higher payout than one with cosmetic or functional imperfections. If your device powers down frequently or has cosmetic imperfections, it will have a lower resale value. You should use a screen protector and a high-quality case to help protect your device and avoid issues like cracked screens, scratches, and water damage.

Include Any Relevant Accessories if Requested

Many trade-in programs don’t offer you any extra money if you include the device’s original packaging, a charger, or a cord. For instance, here at ecoATM, we will recycle these items on your behalf, but we won’t increase your payout if you include them. If you find a program that provides additional cash for original accessories, make sure to include them to maximize your payout.

Properly Prepare Your Phone for Resale

There are a few steps you should take to prepare your device for the resale market, whether you’re selling it at an ecoATM kiosk or trading it in with Apple Trade-In. First, back up all of your valuable personal data, like your photos, videos, app data, and more. You can’t get this data back once you sell your device, so now is the time to back it up.

Next, log out of your accounts, like your Apple ID, Samsung account, or Google account. Finally, wipe all remaining data from the device by factory resetting it. This will restore the phone to its original settings and allow its new user to customize it as they see fit.

Unlock Your Device

Unlocked phones almost always get the highest payouts. There are three different types of cell phone locks:

• Passcode Lock: This one is relatively simple — it’s the lock that applies to your phone when you turn the screen off. Many devices we receive at ecoATMs (and that trade-in programs receive from sellers) are passcode locked, and it’s no big deal to unlock them.
• Carrier Lock: You can sell devices that are carrier locked, although you’ll get less money for them. A carrier lock means that it can only be used on a specific carrier’s wireless network, for instance, AT&T. This usually means the previous owner had a payment plan with their wireless carrier that they didn’t finish paying off. If this sounds like your situation, contact your wireless provider to request the removal of this carrier lock.
• Activation Lock: This type of lock is the reason we always tell people to log out of their accounts before selling their old phones. An activation lock means the phone is still tied to the previous owner’s iCloud, Samsung, or Google account. No one else can use these devices until they’re logged out, and you cannot legally sell a device with an active activation lock.

Compare Offers

A great way to get the most out of your trade-in device is to compare several offers from the resources discussed earlier in this article. Get a few quotes and pick the one with the best combination of pricing and convenience!

Common Pitfalls to Avoid When Trading In an Old Phone

For the most part, trading in a phone is a pretty straightforward process. That said, avoiding these common mistakes will help you maximize your trade-in value.

Exaggerating the Device’s Condition

When you’re gathering quotes for your old phone, you need to be honest about the condition it’s in. Device condition is one of the most important variables when determining trade-in values, and it’s not like the companies discussed above won’t do their due diligence. In other words, if your device is in fair condition, say that. Don’t stretch the truth and say it’s in good condition, as you won’t get accurate quotes for your device.

Mistiming Your Trade-In

There’s really never a bad time to sell an old phone at an ecoATM kiosk. However, with manufacturer and retailer trade-in programs, there are clear-cut times when you’ll get a better deal. Time your trade-in to overlap with new phone announcements (like a new iPhone or Samsung Galaxy model), or do it during a major retail holiday like Black Friday. Many carriers, retailers, and manufacturers will offer extra incentives during these periods, and you don’t want to miss out on the extra value.

Failing to Prepare Your Phone

Don’t forget to back up your personal data, log out of your accounts, and reset your phone to factory settings. Not only is it impossible to retrieve your data once it’s gone, but failing to complete these steps can also make it more difficult to trade in your phone.

Using a Program That Isn’t Eco-Friendly

There are so many trade-in and buyback programs that responsibly recycle old phones and tablets. For example, both ecoATM and Apple do everything they can to protect the environment when buying old phones. We have one simple question in this regard: If you use a platform other than ecoATM, please make sure they value sustainability. Ask where and how your phone will be recycled if it can’t be resold. If the answer doesn’t promote a greener future, seek an alternate option.

 

Skip the Hassles and Sell Your Old Phone for Instant Cash With ecoATM

Why bother with red tape and years-long waiting periods when you can get cash in your pocket today? Here at ecoATM, you won’t have to wait 36 monthly billing cycles to get your trade-in credits — instead, you can get instant cash on the spot!

We’ve already helped recycle over 50 million used phones and tablets over the years. When you choose ecoATM, you participate in the circular economy and help us promote a greener future for our planet. With thousands of kiosks in reputable retail stores from coast to coast, most Americans live or work near an ecoATM kiosk.

Find the nearest kiosk to you and exchange your old electronics for quick cash with ecoATM today.